netflix is a joke fest – The Comedy Bureau

TCB Debriefing 4/8-4/13/24: Conan O’Brien/Hot Ones, Matt Stone/Trey Parker, I Used to Be Funny, Monopoly/Margot Robbie, The Contestant, Netflix Is a Joke Fest, Packfest

April 13, 2024

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1. Conan O’Brien vs. Hot Ones. Point Conan (and then some). We’d almost put money that no other late night host would put on a better show on Hot Ones. Please enjoy this in all its hilarious, disgusting glory (complete with Jose Arroyo as some sort of MD) here.

2. Matt Stone and Trey Parker are partnering with Kendrick Lamar and Dave Free‘s pgLang to make live action movie musical (Deadline), which, based off the successes of Book of Mormon and Kendrick being, well, Kendrick, we’re going to guess this project might be pretty good.

3. Red hot off a blazed trail of Bottoms from last year, the astounding Rachel Sennott is coming to screens this year with a role much more close to home as she will be playing a stand-up really going through a heavy bout of grieving with the (very probably) aptly named i used to be funny from the amazing hands, vision, and mind of one, Ally Pankiw (director of probably one of your new favorite Black Mirror eps.). Take a gander at i used to be funny with the trailer here, then look for an indie rollout beginning in June.

4. Since Margot Robbie, with the help of Greta Gerwig, conquered with Barbie, she is now being tapped to adapt the cruel board game classic Monopoly into a feature length film (BBC News). No matter the take that Robbie chooses to go with in making a Monopoly movie, get ready for an entire boatload of think pieces about late stage capitalism.

5. Right before The Truman Show, Japanese television had a much more alarming, very real version of it that starred an up and coming comedian. See what they hath wrought in the upcoming Hulu documentary, The Contestant. See for yourself in the trailer here, then look for it on Hulu starting May 2nd.

6. Netflix Is a Joke Fest is only a few weeks away and you can feel the streaming giant going full press with their entire comedy roster now stretching from Mulaney doing a docu-series of Los Angeles called Everybody’s in LA (since Mulaney’s a voice for LA now?) and Netflix’s rising star from around the heart of TX, Ralph Barbosa, hosting Netflix’s Introducing series (the NIAJF’s version of New Faces).

7. Speaking of festivals, the small, but mighty Pack Theater is throwing their own festival this Summer, PackFest, and they’re taking submissions for comedy of all kinds RIGHT NOW.

8. We’ll leave you with this: Sorry for the delay on this latest debriefing, our laptop died and we had to buy a new one. If you’d like, you can help us recoup the cost via Venmo @jakekroeger or at patreon.com/thecomedybureau.

TCB Debriefing 12/13/23: Kenny DeForest, Netflix Is a Joke Fest, Trevor Noah/Anthony Anderson/Greta Gerwig, Lena Dunham

December 14, 2023

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1. Truly, deeply rest in peace, Kenny DeForest. A wondrous human being and great comedian taken from us all far too early (as you can see in the outpour of tribute and grief in his name). For now, what might be best would be donate to his Memorial Fund that was formerly a Recovery Fund and also watch his latest special, Don’t You Know Who I Am?, which came out just a few months ago (again, Kenny was on the path doing many a great thing in comedy).

2. Netflix Is a Joke Fest makes its first announcement of many about the hundreds of big time comedians and dozens of venues that will be happening in and around LA come May 2024. Go peep the schedule and get tickets here.

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3. Trevor Noah is back at the Grammys, Anthony Anderson is stepping up to the hosting plate for The Emmys, and Greta Gerwig, riding high off of Barbie, will be the Cannes Film Festival Jury President all next year. Come to think of it, we would be thoroughly intrigued at the prospect of Greta Gerwig hosting an awards show, especially since she also can do this.

4. Lena Dunham has an ex-pat rom com going at Netflix that’s set to star Meg Stalter (Hacks) and Will Sharpe (White Lotus S2) (Variety). Having Meg Stalter as the star of series/movies is definitely where the future of comedy should be headed.

5. We’ll leave you with this: Shout out to every comedy album and special that’s coming out right now and won’t be able to be considered for “2023 Best Of” lists.

Pick of the Day: Arsenio! Live at Netflix Is a Joke Fest (for Free If You’re a Great, Big Comedy Fan) (in LA) 5/3-5/5

May 2, 2022

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OK, so you probably already know that Arsenio Hall, host of the one most riveting late night talk shows in the 90s is exclusively returning for a mini run of his show at Netflix Is a Joke Fest. It’s one of the bigger cards that Netflix is playing for their as-big-as-they-can-go comedy festival (and the first big comedy festival LA has had in several years).

There’s a gorgeous theater in one of LA’s landmark hotels, the Hollywood Roosevelt where every episode will be put up and taped with a live audience. We can’t tell you what sort of fun surprises they have in store, but rest assured that this iteration of Arsenio! is in good hands (we know said hands personally). Normally, you’d have to pay $45 to go, but, if you like and you’re a great, big comedy fan (and by reading this, you very likely are), you can be part of one of the most exclusive Netflix Is a Joke Fest happenings for the nice price of FREE.

Just RSVP for one of the three remaining tapings on this Tues., Wed., and Thurs. this week (all at 3PM PT) right here and you’re good to go.

Pick of the Day: Greta Titelman’s Untitled Hour (in LA) 3/27 & 4/30

March 16, 2022

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We used to revel in seeing one Greta Titelman prowl and command the stage all across LA in 2019 and early 2020. You could often find us in the back of Genghis Cohen on Tuesdays (Greta’s weekly stand-up spot that she shared with the beloved Blair Socci) delighting in Titelman charming any sort of crowd into submission with her sharply drawn bits, stories, characters, etc.

Like so many of our favorite folks, we haven’t really got to them as they’re supposed to be seen (in an intimate, properly lit venue for an hour) for years, which has left our head often hanging like Charlie Brown while pacing indoors during quarantine.

2022 is thankfully a different story with all venues and shows and comedians getting up and running again and such splendid comedic talents as Greta getting to grace audiences with their exquisite comedy wares once more.

No more sullen pacing around for us, thank goodness.

Greta will actually be headlining the Elysian twice in the coming months with her untitled hour on Sun. 3/27 at 7:30PM PT and Sat. Apr. 30th at 9:30PM PT (specifically for Netflix Is a Joke Fest). Tickets are $16 and $20 respectively and you best go get them right now.

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 103: Danielle Lee & The Importance of Being Yourself

March 16, 2022

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Though you might be skeptical, there are indeed, real, honest, good industry folks that are less about the industry than their job title might suggest. Cue in one of our favorite industry folks, producer Danielle Lee, who has brought great and wonderful things to stages and screens of all sizes across the country and is a fierce supporter of the best, forward thinking comedy out there. TCB’s Jake Kroeger sits down with Danielle to talk shop and specifically get an industry insider perspective on how comedians can best serve themselves going forward in 2022.

Follow Danielle on all platforms at @fndanielle.

The Comedy Bureau @thecomedybureau across platforms and please, please support TCB via GoFundMe, Patreon, or on Venmo (@jakekroeger).

Produced by Jake Kroeger
Music by Brian Granillo
Artwork by Andrew Delman and KT

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 89: Dylan Adler & The In-Betweens

December 8, 2021

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Discovering Dylan Adler for the first time this year was absolutely one of the highlights of 2021 for us at TCB. His mix of Broadway flair, darkly personal comedy, and acrobatics (Dylan does a backflip in his act) blew us away when we saw it on a rooftop of a parking structure and must be a real gift to the NYC comedy scene. Dylan joins TCB’s Jake Kroeger for this week’s TCB Field Report to follow his rise in the NYC comedy scene through queer and asian comedy spaces and spaces that are very much not that.

Also, “hot” takes on Netflix is a Joke Fest returning, comedians trying to renegotiate their deals with Spotify, and more.

Follow Dylan @dylanadler6 on Twitter, @dylanadler_ on IG, and @dylanadler7 on TikTok

The Comedy Bureau @thecomedybureau across platforms and please, please support TCB via GoFundMe, Patreon, or on Venmo (@jakekroeger).

Produced by Jake Kroeger
Music by Brian Granillo
Artwork by Andrew Delman and KT

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 63: Ashley Ray & Balancing TV/Going Out Again

June 9, 2021

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Welp, the tides of going back out again and, subsequently, live comedy being performed in person and also, being seen in-person, are rising. Ashley Ray is riding high on that said tide as she has road dates now all across America and a special coming out this month on HBO Max after making it through quarantine with a popular newsletter and podcast, TV, I Say. Ray runs through her comedy journey through the pandemic with TCB’s Jake Kroeger leading to quite an entrance back into the world. Also, we definitely talk about Jeff Singer resigning as the JFL New Faces Booker, Netflix Is a Joke Fest returning, and more.

Follow Ashley @theeashleyray on Twitter, @theashleyray on IG, and listen to TV, I Say wherever you get podcasts.

The Comedy Bureau @thecomedybureau across platforms and please, please support TCB via GoFundMe, Patreon, or on Venmo (@jakekroeger).

Produced by Jake Kroeger
Music by Brian Granillo
Artwork by Andrew Delman and KT

Netflix Is a Joke Festival Is Happening in 2022

June 7, 2021

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One of the first major comedy festivals to get taken away by COVID-19 was what was supposed to be LA’s next big comedy festival, Netflix Is a Joke Festival. They had all sorts of big time headliners and plenty of their handpicked talent lined up for dozens and dozens of shows set for spring 2020.

Of course, that didn’t happen and seemingly, we were unsure of the fate of the festival when it the whole thing was scrapped as lockdown took hold in America.

Now, Netflix is aiming for Apr. 29th-May 8th of 2022, ostensibly just over two years from the original date for the actual, inaugural Netflix Is a Joke Festival. No line-up is announced as of yet, but trust that with several months time and it being Netflix footing the bill, it’s will very likely big and, by then, you might not even need a mask to watch a comedy show indoors.

Get more info at netflixisajokefest.com

Netflix Is a Joke Fest Is Cancelled for 2020

July 10, 2020

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It’s pretty much a foregone conclusion than any sort of big festival that had been slated for most of 2020 is getting cancelled or, at best, postponed to 2021. That includes the inaugural run of Netflix’s big time comedy festival Netflix Is a Joke Fest that was going to be one of the notable comedy events that Los Angeles was going to be home to in quite some time.

Originally, Netflix Is a Joke Fest was going to happen just over a month after lockdown went into effect in Los Angeles. Then, it was postponed for later this year without very many other details. Now, as LA has suddenly turned into a hot spot for COVID-19, the streaming giant announced their decision to nix the festival entirely on this go around. Full refunds will be issued unlike other major festivals that have cancelled like SXSW, but as to what else might happen with Netflix Is a Joke Fest is a mystery at this point.

In fact, Netflix added in their announcement, “We will come back with something extra special, but until then, please stay safe.”

For the rest of the 2020 for comedy in LA, there are some shows that are lined up in October, but it’s best to think of those as tentative at this point.